Loved our experience at Sanjusan! We sat outside and it was a really pleasant evening. Across our group we shared a few appetizers, a seasonal pizza, mentaiko pasta, and some grilled skewers. Everything was delicious! I particularly enjoyed the mentaiko pasta - great flavor and the noodles were the perfect texture. Great service to cap it all off! They offered blankets since it got chiller through the evening. That was a nice touch. Definitely recommend for a date night or night out with friends! read more

Dang...we had an underwhelming second experience here :/ My first visit in 2021 was a 5-star experience (see past review!), and after our trip to Japan, I was soooo excited to bring my family here. Unfortunately, it just wasn't the same top tier experience. We booked the chef's table which was the highlight! We enjoyed getting to watch the chef and team prepare the fare, and chef even spoke to us at one point. Definitely a high level of skill there. We got the yakitori to start: good, but nothing crazy, and the price point for the small skewers is so high. The waygu was a bit tough. After time in Japan, we were JAZZED to get the okonomiyaki pizza, but it was...very sad. Hardly any toppings, and I don't even think it had cabbage on it? No cabbage on an okonomiyaki pizza...? We got a pasta to share as well, and it had great flavors but the portion was oh-so-tiny. We got the special morel pizza to share, and the price was STEEP (I think around $50) due to the rarity of morels, but it was the best thing we had! The gluten-free pizza crust felt small and wasn't overly substantial, so we didn't find much of the meal filling. This meal was quite pricey, and this second experience was more lackluster than our first. read more

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After having eaten a here a few more times I'm adjusting my rating. The pizzas are still the standouts here in terms of value and quality. The service was, as always, impeccable. The inside of the restaurant feels open and you have full view of the kitchen which I always appreciate. But just about everything other than the pizzas that I've had just feel very overpriced for what you get. On my last visit I tried the tenderloin yakitori, which ended up being rather disappointing - no more than a couple bites of a single piece of beef that was rather underwhelming in both flavor and texture for $12. There was no char, which defeats the entire point of Yakitori and really does not bring out the flavor of the meat. I also ordered the pasta dish off the seasonal menu, and it was underseasoned. The appetizers are good and several have a unique fusion, but these are small plates which feel like you're getting half as much as you might expect for the cost. I'll go back but at this point only for the pizzas. read more

Such a fun a cozy little spot in the north loop! It's definitely small, but they have a patio outside, and inside is bright with high ceilings. The staff were great, providing recommendations & never making us wait. The food is amazing. Expensive, but amazing. We had the Hiramasa crudo & Duck tataki to start, both super light and refreshing but still very flavorful. Then the chicken skewers & squid ink pappardelle for our mains, both great as well! The portions are small, so keep that in mind. I loved the toasted breadcrumbs on the pasta, it was a fun texture with the al dente noodles. I want to come back to try the pizza! read more

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Wife and I went to Sanjusan for my birthday and overall it was a very positive experience. Tip #1 is use valet here. It's only $10 + tip for the valet and street parking around here is very stressful and the ramps around here cost just as much if not more. From the time we arrived staff were kind, and our server was very friendly and made us feel welcome. The interior of this restaurant was also gorgeous, simple, refined and minimalist. The menu can be a bit hard to navigate since so many menu options are unique but the server expertly guided us through. We ordered the Maitake Karaage, Duck Tataki, Mentaiko Lumache, chicken thigh yakitori, and a wagyu yakitori. Likes Vs Dislikes: LIKE the Maitake Karaage - this was the best dish of the evening. Fried mushrooms with scallion mayo, gave the texture and flavor of fried calamari but it's actually mushroom. LIKE the Mentaiko Lumache - this pasta was incredible. Perfectly al dente noodles with a unique almost cup shape that gave a nice bite of noodle and sauce together. The sauce was delicious! Dislike the yakitori - felt like there was little to no value here. You pay $7 per skewer which contains barely 3 bites of chicken. It was pretty average tasting too. Wouldn't waste the money. Like and dislike the Duck Tataki - delicious in flavor, nice and fatty, ponzu and mango added a great flavor. Disliked that for $22 you get hardly 4-5 bites of duck. Tiny tiny skinny bites mind you. Felt like the value wasn't there for this fish given how good it actually tasted. I'd look elsewhere on the menu. Overall, given what we liked, the ambience and staff, I am giving this a 5/5. If money isn't a factor then come here and go crazy, but if value matters then stray away from the yakitori and Duck Tataki, just my 2 cents. read more

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Fun menu and ambiance worth visiting! Pushes the limits of what pairings to go with. Our group was split of which direction to go as the menu is between Italian and Japanese. While food quality is amazing, it is an odd mix and portions are small when going family style or with a group. Would recommend going with 2-4 people. read more

Sanjusan - Tuna tartare - Pizza Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The food offerings were unique and very flavorful! The restaurant theme is Japanese and Italian, and options are creative and all sound very delicious so it was very hard to choose. My friends and I ended up sharing a pizza and each had our own pasta main, of which GF was an option and a good pasta made in house! I would go back. read more

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I liked the maitake karaage and the non alcoholic kosho kola I got! The squid ink pasta was ok for me and the yakitori skewers were really small for the price we paid. read more

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Dining here was a sensory delight. The pasta dishes were exquisite, especially the Mentaiko Lumache with pistachios. Our pizzas were excellent; true Napoli style. Being seated at the kitchen counter allowed us to watch the chefs ply their art. That itself was almost as enjoyable as the tasty desserts. Strongly recommend. read more

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This might be long so I'll put a TL;DR.... atmosphere was very cool and the presentation as well, but the food didn't meet expectations and everything was expensive for the portion. There were some hits and misses, but overall unique experience for a Japanese-Italian fusion! Okay so to begin we were sat on the fourth floor which we had a slightly awkward elevator ride up with one of the hostesses. This is when I realized that there's no kitchen upstairs, so all food is brought up in a cart and stays in the elevator basically, so that was a bit unusual but I can get behind nuance!!! The layout and decoration of the place was definitely modern and minimalist, but the font size on the menu was so small that my parents had to grab their glasses to read it, no biggie though I accept the challenge. I loved the light wood contrasting the dark accents and ambient lighting, once the sun set it was moody and unique in a great way. I personally love architecture and interior design, so that's where some of my stars are coming from. The rest of the stars now. Alongside the design was the presentation of the food. Honestly 1000/10 presentation and descriptions, the workers explaining the food spoke a little bit too fast for me to remember anything but they were busy so I understand. The food was very delicious looking, but I hate to say it didn't taste like it looked. It was still good chicken and mushroom, but no WOW factor that made it unique enough to be expensive or japanese-italian. It was paired with this very spicy sauce, some seasoning, and a few veggies which didn't taste that good. I don't have the palate for Asian food, I'll be honest, but there was a vinegar taste to the veggies that I didn't appreciate. The mushroom was good, juicy but not too moist, it kind of fell flat at that though with no other flavor. The other skewers were great, wrapped with some sort of green stuff and conjoined with other vegetables. Overall 6/10 for the food, nothing overwhelmingly tasty thought which was disappointing. The service was great! A bunch of ladies running around making sure we're taken care of, I appreciated it all. It was my birthday so I had the two desserts offered. The fruity one was DELICIOUS with the apples and nuts and moist texture. The chocolate pastry with ice cream was a bit too much for me. It was a unique blend of chocolate, sesame, and ice cream which I liked in theory but the outside was overwhelming which made me dislike it. I was sad though because the ice cream was sooooooo good, I just wished the pastry wasn't as crazy. My siblings got pizzas, parents got pastas, everyone finished their food except for the pizzas. I think they were a little disappointed with the turn out of the pizzas because of the thick crust and dry toppings. I can't speak for them though so I'll leave it there!!! We got four drinks, the japanese lager, the yuzu NA drink, the red NA drink, and a sake flight. The lager was good, but not far from a regular beer. The yuzu citrus drink was BOMBBBBBB, it tasted like a refresher from a drink place you know!?!?! We loved that but there wasn't a lot of it to drink in the large wine glass so it was consumed quickly. The red NA drink, I don't remember the name, but it was cute and tasty, a bit bitter but that's my own palate. The sake flight was explained too fast for me to pick up anything other than the second one is "robust". The one in the clear glass tasted like mineral water and I loved it. I'm not a big drinker so I wasn't looking for a hard flight to choke down. The robust sake was in a cute grey cup and tasted like if a century old tree could produce liquid on tap. It packed a punch and reminded me of a dense, untouched forest. Now the last one, in the brown cup, was HARD. This tasted like something I would get at a bar to start the night. I personally didn't like it as much, it had a stinging taste that was difficult to drink. I gave that and the robust one to my brother and he took them like shots. Although Im not accustomed to the Japanese palate, I can appreciate what tethered my taste buds and what didn't. There were some hits and some misses, which I accept fully for a style that I've never had before. This place has great potential and is honestly a good spot to go, but I don't think it has replay value, meaning you go to try it out and then you say you went there. I had no idea what to expect before arriving until I heard the hostess mention that the chef was awarded the prestigious James Beard, which is cool but I don't know what that is so I figured that this was a fancier, more put together menu. The menus were paper and got wet because of the water glasses, which might've been a tad too small. read more

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Food: 3/5. Service: 1/5. Dinner, July 2026. Disappointing. Food was fine but pretty much the same menu as a year ago (maybe longer). Service was impersonal and hurried. We also had to suffer a staff member repeatedly climbing the banquet to lower the blinds and then JUMPING OFF like a child. read more

Delicious fancier Japanese Italian fusion restaurant. I loved the seasonal specials and the flavor combos were so unique but paired really well. For four, we shared an appetizer, a pizza, a pasta, and a yakitori skewer each and that was the perfect amount. Make reservations ahead of time, I appreciated the blankets while sitting out on the street. Go upstairs to their Japanese whisky bar after for a nightcap. Street metered parking available nearby. read more

After great experiences at the other sister restaurants, Kado no Mise, Kaiseki Furukawa, and Gori Gori Peku, I came to Sanjusan with high expectations, and it absolutely delivered. My visit wasn't even planned; it was a weekday evening, fairly full, but I was able to grab a seat at the bar. The staff at and around the bar were incredibly friendly, and they helped me explore a few sake options to pair with the Duck Tataki. That dish was an absolute wow. Duck is notoriously hard to cook well, and I honestly can't name many great duck dishes even in high-end Midwest restaurants. But this one? Perfectly seared, paired with turmeric ponzu, chickpea, and mango, giving it a texture reminiscent of seared tuna but with richer flavor. Truly exceptional. Because the Duck Tataki impressed me so much, I went for a second dish: the ink pasta. Another wow. I've had squid ink pasta before, but never as pappardelle, and I loved how the flavors were layered into the pasta itself. Another strong 5-star dish. Both dishes really showcased Sanjusan's Japanese-Italian fusion at its best. I'll definitely be back--many more times. read more

Sanjusan - Squid ink pappardelle - Pizza Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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We had such a lovely time celebrating my husband's birthday at Sanjusan! We were very impressed by the Mentaiko Lumache pasta dish; the flavors were rich and fresh and we were fighting to get the last bite! We also had a few Yakitori; they were very tasty but also very small, so if you're looking to get the most bang for your buck, I'd recommend going with the pasta dishes / small plates / pizzas. Service was quick and pleasant; we sat at the bar so we were able to watch everything be prepared. We want to come back to try the pizzas next! read more

Very unique cuisine of Japanese-Italian fusion in a chic area of North Loop. Standout appetizers -- lamb, which looks like tuna ... so good! The croquette and mushroom kaarage are also very memorable. My pasta was superb, creamy with a bit of heat. Can't say much for the space as we sat outside... but the interior I did see was really cool. Definitely a spot to check out. read more

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My favorite dining experience in Minneapolis! We were able to sit at the chef bar and watch them cook. Every single dish was delicious! In particular the crispy sweet potatoes were my favorite, the crust, sweetness, and sauce it was served with were the perfect pairing. We also had the octopus, skewers, and the pizza was good as well. Left feeling fully satisfied! read more

Everything about this place was absolutely perfect - the food, the service, and ambience were all 5/5. Pork gyoza with foie gras and wood ear mushrooms was incredible, I could have eaten 20 of them. Duck tataki is a must for duck lovers. Arancini was delicious and gorgeous presentation. We also got the squid pappardelle - amazing. You can't go wrong with anything you order here. Drinks were all beautifully crafted as well. It was the perfect date night and we can't wait to return! read more

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Simpling amazing. We tried a Japanese fusion pizza, the Calabrian. It had a Japanese sausage with Ricatto. The cocktail creations were super delicious. read more

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Welcoming and nice seating options! Amazing cocktails! Exquisite gluten free pasta and pizza all with a unique twist!! Service was friendly and thorough! read more

I went with a girlfriend at 645 on a Tuesday. This restaurant is very small, so although they do accept walk ins, I would make a reservation to ensure you get a table. Food 5/5: We went in with the concept of sharing and had the old fashioned, pork gyoza, mentaiko lumache pasta and the Isaac Becker pizza. All of our food came at the same time, so if you want things at different times I would be explicit about that. The gyoza was the perfect balance of flavors and I'd absolutely go back for. The pasta was the perfect umami balance and is elevated with the crunch of the pistachio. The pizza was definitely more than MN spicy, so if you're not a spice fan it would be a no go. Overall well balanced, and the pizza crust was light and fluffy! We were all given a zeppole and it was the most amazing mix between warm and cold! Very well balanced. Service: 4/5. We did have to wait a bit for drinks and food. The waitress thoroughly apologized, and overall it wasn't a huge issue because I had a lot to catch up on with my friend. Other than that, the service was great. The waitress explained the menu to us and was otherwise attentive. Ambiance: 4/5. This is a very small space. If you don't like dining close to other people, this would not be your place. We sat at the chefs counter which was fun to see all the food being made. I was sitting next to someone who was left handed, and I'm right handed, and we bumped into each other a few times. He was very friendly, so overall not a big deal. The plus of sitting close, our neighbors didn't finish their dessert and shared with us. The other thing that felt a little misplaced was the paper menus. It felt very cheap for this elevated space in my opinion. Overall the food was absolutely amazing. read more

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Such a fun place. We sat at a high top by the bar and it was a perfect size and intimate. Ordered the scallop yakitori which could have been done a touch more, plus the delicious Brussel sprouts. Then we had the special fettuccini and the margarita pizza. Both were so good! Great service too. read more

I have been here many times and think the food and service is very good! The miso pesto pizza is genius and one of my favorites but last night I had the fettuccine which is most expensive pasta on their menu clocking at $47. It is worth every bite. Its a sizable portion and did not leave me completely hungry by the end. The sauce is not like an Alfredo but still creamy. It's very light but yet rich with a generous portion of crab that you can taste the sweetness. Their patio is nice and not too noisy. It had really filled up on a Tuesday night, so please make sure to make a reservation! read more

Sanjusan - Fettuccine with crab and saffron butter - Pizza Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Years overdue, but one experience was able to define my entire impression of this establishment because the food was really good. Some of the items in my pictures no longer exist on the menu, but I have faith that whatever they have decided to replace those items with must be great as well. It is also cool to see some of the items that I had in 2021 are still around! I am honestly really happy to see it. Pretty much everything was a hit in my opinion. The A5 wagyu nigiri resulted in one very pleasant bite because the wagyu beef, which was supposed to be fatty in texture, did it work in providing the rice with a rich flavor as well. The panzanella had multiple ingredients such as cucumber, avocado, and serrano pepper, and having a bonito mayo giving it additional flavor made the dish work but in terms of flavor and texture. The stracciatella was interesting because I have never seen salsa verde and wasabi together in one dish, and it tasted pretty good. I wasn't used to it, but I could more than tolerate it for sure. The pork gyoza was really good as well, not only because the wood ear mushrooms provided a layer of texture that the dumpling didn't have, but also because the foie gras provided some richness to the gyoza. In terms of pasta, both the squid ink pappardelle and the fettuccine ai uni were great! The pasta was al dente. There was enough crab and bolognese in the dish. And the pecorino romano cheese in the squid ink pasta provided extra creaminess texture since I mixed it in with the sauce. Both dishes were super solid. It seems like prices have increased drastically since I was last here in 2021, which I understand is because of inflation, but it makes the dishes way less afforable now. The squid ink pasta, which is still on the menu, went from $23 to $32.5, and that's quite a bit. Because of that, I don't think this is one of those places one would visit all the time. For a special occasion, though, based on the food alone, worth it. read more

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Came here at another time after a few amazing visits... and it was not as great. For the first time we sat at the bar. The bartenders were SO SO at best. We got sake and our bartender just was not understanding what we were looking for and he even talked to us like we were dumb in terms of the sizes and brought out a shot glass, glass, and carafe. Like dude, we know we get it. Then, he and the main bartender did not communicate well at all and it just was not the normal experience that we have here. Don't need to sit at the bar again... read more

- Fettuccine pasta was very disappointing. The amount of crab you get for $40+ is shocking and the crab isn't even that flavorful. The noodles have good consistent texture but is overpowered by the butter. The citrus notes and seaweed can't save this dish. Would not order again - Squid ink pasta was the best. A perfected blend of Italian and Japanese culture in one bowl. It consists of a black unique pasta noodle that is easy to eat, strung along with orange clumps of flavor - Mentaiko lumanche pasta was okay, my sister really liked it - The brick-oven Margarita pizza was good, very nice dough texture but the portion could be bigger - Maitake karaage had a good crisp, chewy texture paired with a decent sauce and refreshing seaweed - Gyoza had a neat appearance but nothing special taste-wise, same with the mushroom - I tried their non-alcoholic drinks- Kosho, Royal and Akai Senshi. Both taste good but overpriced for the amount of drink you get. Especially for the Royal, $12 for a small milk tea you is egregious. Even for the Kosho, you get 4 tablespoons worth of juice in a huge wine glass. I'm not a wine lover so I can't really say I enjoyed the Akai drink but if that's part of your palate all I can say is that it tastes like red wine - Service was stellar, they're quick on taking orders and replacing plates/culinary. Staff are all friendly - Interior can be a bit loud and cramped. The narrow hallway design forces the noises of the kitchen and other patrons to condense. The music they play is R&B but the volume could be turned up read more

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Sanjusan was an INCREDIBLE meal. The cozy, dimly-lit restaurant was pretty crowded on a Saturday night, but the service was great. To start, we got the Rikyu with green tea vodka and the Sanju with sake, both of which were refreshing. For mains, the squid ink pappardelle was INSANE - the pasta was so fresh and the sauce was perfect. Their signature Isaac Becker pizza, with spicy tuna as a topping, was worth the hype; it unexpectedly worked really well. Can't wait to be back. read more

Sanjusan - squid ink pappardelle - Pizza Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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so fun to finally try this place. all the flavors so unique. everything 10/10. i can't wait to come back read more

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I really enjoyed my dinner at Sanjusan! I'd been dying to try it ever since all of my friends raved about it. I was also intrigued by the Japanese-Italian fusion with serving small plates, pizza, and pasta amid an industrial-chic atmosphere. When we first arrived I didn't realize that they have several floors accessible by elevator, the initial interior on the first floor was a bit smaller than I anticipated. But once we rode the elevator up, a big dining space awaits. We ordered the Verdi pizza (miso pesto, mozzarella, walnuts, and Parmesan) which was excellent. Really great flavor profile and the crust was chefs kiss! For entrees we ordered some pasta dishes, I got the Trattole Fra Diavoli (tomato, basil, anchovy, and Parmesan), I enjoyed this. It wasn't heavy or overpowering on the anchovy and the balance of flavors was quite unique. I could really taste the fusion of Japanese and Italian components. my friend ordered the Mentaiko Lumache (pistachio, basil, toasted nori) and really loved her meal. Wonderful experience all around with immaculate vibes. read more

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We came here to celebrate life events and meet up with some good friends recently. Upon first hearing about this place and the Japanese/Italian fusion concept, I was interested to find out what this place was all about. Ambiance: The restaurant has a few different concepts through three levels. We were on the top floor which was quiet and had larger tables. It was nice for our larger group so we had space and time to chat and enjoy our night. The restaurant is hip and modern, clean lines and neutral colors. Simple and sleek - this will be a theme throughout. Food and drink: We started out with cocktail hour. The drink menu is fairly small and hosts 1-2 drinks per popular liquor choice. I tried the Old Fashioned as I usually lean that way anyways. Not overly impressed with the drinks here. I was expecting more presentation and flavor fusion, especially because the food does it so well. It wasn't a bad drink but it wasn't anything special that brought a wow factor. Put it in a neat glass, pair it with an interesting relish, something! For $17 a drink, I just felt like something more could have been included. The food menu on the other hand does a great job of pairing two very different cuisine types into very palate entertaining dishes. The main options are either pasta or pizzas with various small dishes to try too. All of the food that our table ordered was simply but neatly presented and so photo worthy. My wife and I tried a pasta and pizza dish to share between the both of us, both were very tasty. Bright, flavorful, inventive - we loved both but I especially liked the pizza. Size vs. price - the pizza was the better deal because it was fairly large for a personal pizza. Service: Service was on top of everything and very welcoming. Our server was very informative and made sure the whole group was taken care of. I think the staff were walking up like three flights of stairs throughout our dinner so I have to give them props for doing that all night! Price: Prices were on the steeper side but they are found on the North Loop and so not too surprising, I knew that going in. For the most part, the service and food quality offset the sticker price. My consensus: Good place to try something different from normal surf and turf and a great place to go if you have a group that is interested in dining and drinking for an extended period of time. Food fusion is always fun to try and this is a great place to experience something different and tasty! read more

Sanjusan - Pizza Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Beautiful setting! We had a big group, and the service was excellent. Very attentive and welcoming. We ordered almost everything on the menu to share, and we had no bad bites! I loved the squid ink pasta, the pizzas, and the yellowtail appetizer the most. read more

Beautiful space and great service but I've always been disappointed by the food. Have tried 2 different very popular pizzas - the Isaac Becker and the Okonomiyaki. They were baked to have a burnt char to the point of bitterness, and the crusts are so thick and dense that they overpower the flavors (especially on the okonomiyaki) and require quite a bit of effort to chew. The best part of the latter pizza was the large bonito flakes that danced around when the pizza was hot. Also ordered the mentaiko lumache pasta dish. While it was pretty and the sauce was nice, the basil completely overpowered the dish, and there was virtually no flavor of mentaiko at all. Since I love mentaiko and ordered the dish because of that, I was very disappointed. The maitake mushroom karaage was lovely - crisp and light:, and the crudo was a nice small starter. read more

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The vibe was definitely a little more upscale, but also casual. Our service was pretty nice and standard. The food was really good!! Highly recommend the charred asparagus and squid ink pappardelle! read more

Sanjusan - Squid Ink Pappardelle - Pizza Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Unusual but delicious food. I've been twice and really enjoyed their yakitori, tuna pizza, and all the pastas we've tried. Lots of good options. It can add up but quality is great. I do wish they had a few more cocktail options read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Minneapolis. I go here for every special occasion (and also just because). The service is always great. I don't love the first floor seating arrangement as it feels cramped and a little cold in decor for me, but I really love their higher floor seating section, which is more spacious and with warmer tones. During the summer months that outdoor seating is nice as well (albeit small). My favorite appetizers that I always get are the Arancini and Gyoza, and I always get a pasta dish, usually different ones as they seem to rotate what's on their menu. The pizza is great too, but I haven't had that as often. I don't love the cocktail selection anymore (I think they took off some of my favorites), but the food makes up for it. read more

Overall food is unique and I loved the fun cocktails. I do think the place is a little over hyped and definitely over priced. We sat outside which was nice touch, especially on a nice day! read more

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Oh Sanjusan - where Japanese & Italian merge to create an umami of flavors for your palate. My friend booked us a few days in advance when we visited and I'm so glad she did. It was amazing, and unlike any other cuisine I've had. The way the chef is able to balance the flavors where Japanese notes of miso, nor can be tasted with layers of Italian goodness is amazing. I enjoyed the arancini fried and topped with enoki and ginger and served over a poached egg. Probably my fav thing! I also liked the mentaiko lumache pasta which had pistachio, toasted basil, and nori. I could skip on the crudo next time and focus on another pasta dish or app. We all got the drink Hana hachi would recommend it was a good cocktail curated with mezcal and yuzu. Overall service was great and they had a nice playlist going through dinner. Would def recommend this experience! Can't wait to come back when I'm in town. read more

Sanjusan - Menu - June 2024 - Pizza Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Came here for our anniversary and it felt really special. Their saffron crab was so good that I literally had to stop and take a moment to take it in. read more

Went last night (a Tuesday) after making a last minute reservation for 7:45 PM. My first impression was that the the space was just too small, felt cramped and the lighting was too bright. None of that mattered when we got our food and drinks. We started with cocktails. My husband ordered the Hanna Hachi which he really enjoyed. I had a negroni which was good. For food, we started with two items from the small plates section of the menu. The Duck Tataki was thin slices of duck (very chewy but tasty) with a yummy sauce , small pieces of mango and tiny pieces of ( I think) roasted chick peas which gave the dish a delightful crunch. Our other small plate dish was the Pork Gyoza, (our least favorite dish of the night but still quite good) which had a very interesting presentation that didn't look all that appealing. It was white, I think they were dumplings with a ground pork filling, topped with very chewy pieces of mushroom. Both of these apps were portioned nicely for two people to share. From the pasta section we ordered the Mentaiko Lumache dish. My oh my was it good! Perfectly cooked pasta, small pieces of toasted pistachios , fresh basil in a somewhat spicy sauce. Our server said that it had, if I'm remembering correctly, some type of fish roe, which wasn't really detectable other than occasionally a slight fishy anchovy taste. Again, the portion was adequate for sharing, if you're having other food as well. I will go back and have this again, it was amazing. We finished with one of the two desserts available but I don't remember the name. It had buckwheat ice cream. It was so good too. The service was also a 5/5. read more

One of the best date spots in Minneapolis and I'll tell you why: 1. Ambiance: Romantic, soft lighting and intimate seating allows for great conversation and a setting that makes you feel like you're the only two in the room. A lot of nicer restaurants in Minneapolis has darker lighting and/or is super loud, so sanjusan's set up is perfect! 2. FOOD! As a food lover, this is paramount. Sanjusan's food is a twist on comfort, they take more familiar Italian flavors and ingredients (bread/dough, cheese, butter, creamy sauce, pizza) and add high quality ingredients and a lovely Japanese twist to it. The pizza was cooked to perfection (got the Isaac Becker which had an amazing red sauce). The satsumai agnolotti was slightly sweet and buttery, which paired well with the tangier, spicy pizza. I will say the pasta dough itself was just okay, but the sauce and filling made up for it. The maitake karaage was a strong start and contender for my favorite dish. The yakitori is also really good (get the thigh), not the standout part to the meal but an essential (added some protein). read more

Sanjusan - Maitake karaage - Pizza Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Definitely a gem in North Loop. Came here for my partners birthday dinner. We really wanted to try a bunch of different things in the menu. We ordered the Arancini, Pork Gyoza, Yakitori, Isaac Becker and the Squid Ink Pappardelle. We enjoyed all of it. The standout dishes for me were the Isaac Becker and the Yakitori. The Yakitori is absolutely delicious. Perfectly grilled and bursting with flavor. We also got a mule and old fashioned. Both were good. Highly recommend this spot . Get the Yakitori if you eat chicken. It's fantastic. read more

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